The Dynamic Nature of Clarity
Embracing Uncertainty and Flexibility
Clarity — our world starts and stops with this one word. Take any aspect of your life, from relationships to careers, or any decision you got to make. They all hinge on getting clarity.
I agree that clarity has the power to shape our destiny and propel our lives in unimaginable ways. Yet, clarity also has the power to keep us stuck and prevent us from achieving our goals. And 99% of the time our need for clarity keeps us stagnant. It eventually depletes our will and creates a loss of momentum.
Most people believe that achieving clarity will guarantee a problem-free life. They believe that having clarity in life is like 2+2, which means never experiencing doubts or uncertainties. Few people also believe that clarity is inborn. It is a natural talent and cannot be learned. These are the people who often envy and criticize the most successful minds of the world.
I had an altogether different definition of clarity growing up. For me clarity was all about oversimplification, having a pre-set plan without flexibility. For the same reasons, I chose to graduate in computer engineering, bagged on-campus offers from two of the most prestigious companies, had my eyes fixed on getting an MBA degree a couple of years down the line, and eventually owning a software company. But, reality had something else in mind. It showed me that life is dynamic and ever-changing, and so is clarity.
The 2001 dot-com bubble burst followed by the 9/11 attacks in the US changed everything I knew about clarity. Within months I recognized that I had to adapt to the new circumstances. In that moment I knew that my definition of clarity was overrated. And over a period of time, I also realized that other people’s definitions of clarity were also overrated.
In the last 20 years here’s what I have learned a thing or two about clarity:
- Clarity is power. Yes, it is — only if you know how to wield it. The power of clarity lies in knowing what you want and why you want it. Setting goals is only a means to accomplishing your what. Adapting a Warren Buffett quote on business to life, “With a wonderful business (or life), you can figure out what will happen; you can’t figure out when it will happen or how it will happen. You don’t want to focus on when or how; you want to focus on what. If you’re right about the what, you don’t have to worry about the rest.”
- Clarity does not mean certainty. As human beings, we are wired for certainty. And when we say we need clarity, in reality, what we want is certainty. But, clarity is no crystal ball to tell you with 100% certainty about anything. Having clarity is a game of probability. This means it can evolve over time as you grow, learn, and encounter new experiences. Associating clarity with certainty will keep you paralyzed.
- Clarity is not a one-time achievement. Never is it. Clarity is ever-changing and an ongoing process. It is never achieved by sitting on your backside. Clarity requires you to be the man (or woman) in the arena and keep taking action.
- Clarity allows for openness and flexibility in choices, decisions, and actions. With clarity, you get an opportunity to continuously explore and adapt as you move forward. You get to embrace a mindset of play and possibilities.
- Clarity does not mean having all the answers upfront. Instead of focusing your energy on getting clarity about having all the answers in life (which is a futile exercise altogether,) focus on reflecting on your values, non-negotiables, and an overall direction for your life. Get clear on what matters to you, and make decisions aligned with that understanding.
Clarity is what you get when you look in the rearview mirror. It grows by joining the dots backward. Nintendo was first a taxi company, then it moved into hotels and later into manufacturing instant rice before it became a video gaming behemoth. Facebook’s co-founder Dustin Moskovitz moved on to make Asana — a leading project management platform. Wrigley’s, a billion-dollar chewing gum company, was once selling soaps and baking powder. Entrepreneur Richard Branson has over 400 companies under the Virgin brand and it first started as a mail order record business. Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx did not start with the clarity of disrupting an industry. Do you think any of these companies or people had 100% clarity or a pre-set plan? Clarity is the result of starting, struggling, and even failing along the way.
Clarity is not a prerequisite. It is a result of staying flexible and being open to new opportunities or alternative paths. It comes from action and not thought. So stop using clarity as a pretext for certainty and for staying in your comfort zone. A little scary is good! A little scary can go a long way.
#ReinventYourself #YesYouCanChange
